The FIFA World Cup is upon us! We know, typically the World Cup happens during the summer. Kids are off from school, everyone at work relaxes a little to enjoy the nice weather, and all the club football around the world is on break. Well, for the 2022 World Cup FIFA decided to host it in a desert, so the summer is out!
Everyone will be traveling to Qatar for the tournament, so that means from November 20 through December 18, 2022, soccer fans will be glued to their TVs at all hours of the day to watch the biggest international football tournament around. With 32 teams competing, there will be plenty of action to keep even the most casual soccer fan entertained. And what better way to watch the games than with a group of friends? That's where we come in. If you're looking to throw the best World Cup party around, look no further! Here are some tips on how to make sure your party is a success.
Choose Your Favorite World Cup Team
One of the most important things you can do when throwing a World Cup party is choose a team to root for. It's tough to get invested in the games if you don't have a team that you're cheering for. So do some research on the teams that are playing and pick one that you can get behind.
There are some pretty obvious options to start with. First, you can root for your home country. Since there are only 32 teams though, most countries unfortunately aren't playing. For many of us likely reading this blog, the USA qualified and is in Group B with England, Iran, and Wales.
If your current country of residence isn't playing, then we suggest looking to your ancestral country. Where are your parents from? Is THAT country playing in the tournament? If you can make the connection to the team personal it'll be more fun, so look for those connections everywhere. If no one in your family can help you choose a team, start going down your list of friends. Who are you going to watch the games with most often, and who are THEY rooting for? It can be fun to cheer for the same team when you're watching games together, so that's always a good option.
The other obvious criteria we'd suggest is which national team has the most players from your favorite club team? This may only apply to folks who watch club soccer, but many big teams in Europe are comprised of players from all over the world. For instance, Arsenal is a team that plays in England, but traditionally they've had a lot of French players on the team. Currently there is a growing contingent of Brazilian players. So if you support Arsenal and like to see their players, perhaps you could root for Brazil, or France, so you can still cheer for players you know and love.
If all else fails and you're still not sure who to pick, why not root for the underdog? There's nothing more satisfying than watching a team that wasn't expected to win defy all expectations and come out on top.
Make Some Traditional Nation-Specific Dishes For Your Party
No World Cup party would be complete without some traditional national dishes. Let's take a look at some great options for World Cup munchies.
Brazil
Brazil is home to some of the best soccer players in the world, and they know how to throw a good party too! This is a perfect time to experiment with a new cuisine and new recipes and have some fun cooking, so making traditional Brazilian food is a perfect place to start. Some Brazilian dishes that would be perfect for your World Cup party include feijoada (a black bean stew), pao de queijo (cheese bread), and churrasco (grilled meats). Not only will your guests love these tasty dishes, but they'll also help get them into the Brazilian spirit!
USA
One of the most popular party foods is undoubtedly the humble hamburger. Whether you're serving up burgers fresh off the grill or opting for a more experimental approach, there's no denying that this classic dish is always a hit. For a twist on the classic cheeseburger, try adding some sautéed onions or swapping out the traditional bun for a pretzel bun. You can also get creative with your toppings, such as adding bacon or avocado.
Another classic American food that's perfect for parties is buffalo chicken dip. This creamy and spicy dish is always a hit, and it's super easy to make. Simply combine cooked chicken, hot sauce, and cream cheese in a slow cooker and let it all melt together. Serve with tortilla chips or celery sticks and watch as your guests devour it.
These are just a few ideas to get you started, but the possibilities are endless when it comes to choosing traditional American foods for your party. Whatever you choose to serve, your guests are sure to enjoy themselves!
Qatar
Qatar is a country with a rich culture and cuisine. One traditional food option is khubz, a type of flatbread that is often served with dipping sauces. For something heartier, try machboos, a dish made with spiced rice and chicken or lamb. Another popular option is harees, a thick porridge made with wheat and meat. If you are looking for a dessert option, balalet is a sweet bread that is often served with tea.
Choose Your Cuisine based on who is playing
With so many games on all the time, you can actually try to tailor your menu to whichever teams are playing on the day of your party. You could even start a little tournament of your own, making one dish from every country, and when teams play you serve the dish from each country. Let your guests decide which country's dish tastes better, and then see which team wins the game! That's awfully ambitious, but hey, it'll be memorable at the least!
Put Together a Good Party Playlist
Now you might be thinking, "If we're watching a sporting event why do we need music?" And you're right - this probably isn't the most important piece of the puzzle when throwing a World Cup party. But it's better to be prepared than feel like you're missing something, so let's pay a little attention to the music just in case.
Remember that soccer matches are 90 minutes, and in the group stages of the tournament there is no overtime - games can end in a draw, or a tie - so the whole thing is only about 2 hours long. Unlike most American sports, there are no commercials or breaks during a soccer match. The first half is 45 minutes (plus extra time for stoppages), then there is a short half time, and then they play the second half for another 45 minutes. That's it. So you don't have to contend with commercial breaks and all that. If an American football game is four quarters that are 15-minutes each, that's only one hour of game time. But watching a game can take you four hours. With soccer, the game is 90 minutes, there is one half time, and you're done in less than two hours. That's super efficient for watching a game, but it also makes for a short party.
You've probably put in work to get your house clean, maybe you put up decorations to make everything festive, and we've already talked about the great food options you can make so everyone stays fed. Let's keep these people at your house for awhile to enjoy each other's company even before or after the game. That's when you want music!
It's not really necessary to find "soccer specific" or "world cup" music for your playlist, though you could certainly spend some time finding song tracks of all the chanting that goes on during a soccer game. Probably not the best hang out music though! So we recommend just finding your go-to playlist of music that you and your friends enjoy. This is really for the time before and after the game anyway, so keep it simple and have some fun.
Fun Games To Play At Your World Cup Party
You'll also want to have some fun activities planned to keep your guests entertained before and after the game, and during the short halftime as well. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Set up a betting pool for the game. Guests can put down a few dollars to make predictions on things like who will score the first goal or which team will win by how much. You can bet on who the first scorer will be, how many cards a person or team will receive, whether or not anyone gets ejected from the game. The possibilities are endless and can be quite fun! The person with the most correct predictions at the end of the game wins the pot, or manage payouts based on each bet as it's placed.
Organize a halftime competition. Maybe you get a small soccer ball, or another soft ball, and you set up a little penalty shootout for everyone at the party. Use anything as a goal, and each person takes a turn being the goal keeper and the penalty taker. Decide how many attempts you each get and run through your own little tournament bracket. This is always an absolute blast, and everyone loves it.
Get some tailgate games going in the house. Pretty much any tailgating game you might play at other sporting events are good party games for World Cup watching. As we've already mentioned, there is plenty of time to play games and socialize before and after the match. Something quick and easy like pong, flip cup, cornhole, or popdarts are all great options because they're easy to set up and quick to play.
Cornhole is the perfect classic game for fun at your party. Set up two professional cornhole boards at opposite ends of your tailgate area, and see who can score the most points by shooting bean bags through the hole in the board. If you're feeling competitive, keep score and award prizes to the winners. If you're just looking to have some fun, forget the scoring and let everyone relax and enjoy the game. Whichever way you play, cornhole is sure to be a hit at your World Cup party!
Make Sure You Have Plenty of Drinks
This one should go without saying, but it's always important to make sure you have enough drinks on hand when throwing a party. In addition to the usual suspects (beer, wine, etc.), why not whip up some custom cocktails for your guests? There are plenty of great recipes online for creative drinks that will get your guests into the World Cup spirit. Just be sure not invite anyone under 21 so that you don't run into any legal trouble!
Everyone thinks of soccer fans as a bunch of hooligans anyway, so why not embrace the stereotype, pour some pints, and get rowdy! World Cup only happens once every four years anyway, so go crazy!
Enjoy The World Cup & Your Party
Whether you're rooting for your home team or just hoping to see some good soccer, a World Cup party is the perfect way to enjoy the tournament. Following these tips will help ensure that your World Cup party is one that your friends will be talking about long after the tournament is over.
First, tailgate games are a must. They'll get everyone in the mood for the game and add an extra element of fun. Cornhole, KanJam, and ladder toss are all great options. Just make sure you have enough for everyone to play. Second, make sure you have plenty of food and drink. No one wants to be stuck hungry or thirsty in the middle of a game. Water, soda, and beer are all essential, but don't forget the snacks! Chips, pretzels, and buffalo chicken dip are always popular choices. Last, but not least, have a blast! The World Cup only comes around every four years, so make sure you enjoy it to the fullest. Cheer on your team, sing along with the chants, and dance when your team scores. With these tips, you're sure to have a party that's worth remembering years from now. Go USA!
So get ready for some fun, football, and flavor—the three key ingredients for any successful World Cup party!